Adjustable height gauge



March 2, 1954 UD, HULL ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT GAUGE '5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 19, 1951 Mardi 2, 1954 D. D. HULL. 2,670,542

` ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT GAUGE Filed Oct. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. .Bo/VALE D- HULL D. D. HULL ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT GAUGE March 2, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 19, 1951 Attorney Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT GAUGE Donald D. Hull, Jackson, Mich.

Application October 19, 1951, Serial No. 252,140

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel construction of height-gauge for use in securing accurate measurements of elements and which is capable of being readily adjusted and set for obtaining either inside or outside measurements with respect to either a flat level surface on which the gauge is supported or relatively to an anvil surface of the gauge where a at, level gauge supporting surface is not available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a height gauge having a vertically adjustable scale bar having sets of linear graduations and indicia for use with adjustable elements of the gauge for obtaining either inside or outside measurements relatively to a supporting surface of the gauge or relatively to the anvil surface of the gauge.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a height gauge including attachments capable of being readily'applied thereto for use either in ordinary checking or layout work, in restricted spaces, as an accurate inscriber, or to enable the gauge to be utilized as a depth gauge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a height gauge including a Vernier scale with magnifying means t enable measurements to be accurately obtained and read to thousandths of an inch.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the gauge in an operative position;

- Figure 2 is an edge elevational view of the gauge look from left to right of Figure 1;

l Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the gauge;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal, cross sectional views taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 6 6 and 1 1, respectively, of Figure 4;

Figures 8 and 9 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially along planes as indicated by thelines 8 8 and 9 9, respectively, of Figure l;

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line l0 0 of Figure l;

Figure 11 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical section of a part of the height gauge;

Figure 12 is a top plan view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line l2 l2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the slide of Figures v11 and 12;

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the mag-v nifying unit;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line |5 5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view, partly in front elevation illustrating the use of an attachment of the gauge;

Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale illustrating the relationship of the slidably movable vernier with respect to the vertically adjustable scale bar;

Figure 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the Vernier;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating other positions of the gauge arm as supported by the slide unit, and

Figure 20 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a depth gauge attachment substituted for the scriber attachment of Figure 16.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the novel height gauge in its entirety is desig-v nated generally 2l and includes a base, designated generally 22 having a relatively wide bot' tom portion 23 the under surface 24 of which is flat and adapted to rest on a suitable supporting surface 25. The base 22 also includes an elongated relatively narrow bar 25 which is suitably secured to the base portion 23 intermediate of its side edges and which extends from end-to-end thereof. The bar 26 has an clon-- gated strip 21 disposed on and secured to the upper surface of said bar. 'I'he upper surface of the strip 21, which forms an anvil, is dis-- posed parallel to the bottom surface 24 of the base. The anvil 21 is spaced from one end of the bar 26, which end has a recess in one side thereof, as seen at 28 in Figure 8, to accommodate therein the lower end of a channel section 29 of a standard, designated generally 30. Said lower end of the channel section 29 is secured rigidly to the bar 26 by suitable fastenings 3m and is thus supported by the base 22 in an upright position perpendicular to the bottom surface 24 and to the upper surface of the anvil 21.

The standard 30 also includes an elongated bar or strip 3| which is slidably disposed in the channel of the section 29. The exposed side of the bar 3| is provided with two linear scales 32 and 33, one of which is disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof and each of which includes graduations and indicia fer reading measurements in inches and fractions thereof. Furthermore, as noted in Figure l, the 0 inch graduations of the two scales 32 and 33 are offset with respect to one another a distance corresponding to the distance between the bottom base surface 24 'and the upper surface of the anvil 21, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. As best seen in Figures 4 to '7, the upper end of the bar 3l is provided on its outer side with a 3 longitudinally extending recess 34 in which is partially received a nut 35 having a stem 36 extending nwardly therefrom and which is ali-- chored in the bar 3f, as illustrated in Figure 5.- The bar 3l terminates below the upper end of the channel member 29 and the intermediate or back portion of said channel member, above the bar 3i, is provided with a vertically elongated slot 31. A head or block 38 is secured im andy closes the upper end ci the. channel 26 and is provided with a bore 39 forming a guide and journal for an elongated stern 40. The stem` 4U has a knurled head 4l on. its upper end disposed above the standard 30 and has a restricted threaded shank portion 42 at its lower end. The intermediate portionof the' stem 40 is journalled at bearing 43 and said intermediate portion. includes a restricted portion 44 in which is rev ceiveda restricted end 45 of. a setscrew 46 which iszthrcaded radially into the bearing 43. The bearing 43 is provided with aA shank 41 which. extends outwardly through the slot 31 and the terminal portion of which is threaded to receive a nut t6. The nut 4'8- is adapted to be tightened. for clamping. the bearing. 43 various vertically atiijlieted` positions in the' channel section 29 and it will be readily apparent when the nut 48 is.- lhcsened, the stem 46 can be vertically reciproirr the guide block 38- to cause the bearingv 43 to slide vertically therewith.v Likewise, the har t will; be vertically' reciprccated withv the stem 4&1 since the threaded shank 42' threadedly engages the nut. 35i to thus connect ther stem 4D: and: bar 3l.. In-` thisY manner, rough vertical adjustment of the.- ba-r 31k may be made relatively totv the channel 2!!` and thus relatively to the' base: 2-2', after which. ther nut' 48y can. be tightened toA clamp the bearing. 43 against vertical sliding movement and theastem. 49' is their rotated by its lnnn'ledi thumbz ltnon 4t! to cause:A they shank 4Z to bef moved either downwardly or upwardly through: the rmt- 35 to thereby raisev or lowers, respectively; the bar 3f. tofthus obtain iine adjustment ot the; bar,

upper; supporting slidei 49: is mounted for: vertical reciprocating. movement on the stand.-

ard. 3e andi has av wedge blockk 50 disposed in one endf of' the bore 5t thereof and'. which. en-

gages oneside of the channel section. 29. A screw 52' is threaded? intoY the slide 4'9 against the wedgebioclr i and is adapted tol be advanced' inwardlytoiorce the wedge block into` clamping engagement with the standard 3d,V as best illus tra/ted: in- Figure L6; for adjustably clamping' the Slide- 46 to` the standard at a-ny` desired level'. A- screw 53 has an unthread'ed upper end 54 whichi's journalied inE a portionv of the slide 49 andi which is rotatably connected thereto by a pin and groove connection 55. The screw 534 is provided'with a' knurledhead 56 beneath saidupper' end 54andabove its threaded portion.

A: movable gauge' element carrying` unit; des-f ignated v genera1ly5'1, includes an elongated slide 58` which is reciprocally supported' on the standard' 36 below the. supporting slide 4s and. whichlikewise includes a wedge block 59 which' is' dis'- posed in. the bore 66' thereof. The block 59 is likewise displaced into clamping engagement with a side. of the channel section. 29' by a screw 6i' which isI threaded. into the4 slide. 5U' andv which engages the block. 59" for clamping the slide to thestandard 3Bl when the screw 6|` is advanced inwardly otf said slide 58. The upper portion of .the slide 58 is .provided with a vertically extending threaded bore 62 to receive the screw 53 and said slide 58 is provided with a notch 63, below the' bore 62, into which the lower end of the screw 53 can extend. -It will. be apparent that with both of the screws 52 and 6I loosened the supporting slide 49 and unit 51 may be slid upwardly or downwardly on the standard 30 for obtaining desired rough adjustments. The screw 52 may be tightened to secure the supporting slide 49 to the standard 30 and by then manually turning' the screw 53 by its thumb knob or head 56 ne adjustment of the unit 51 may be accomplished.

The bore 66 is of sufficient depthbetween the iront and' rear faces of the slide 56 to' accommodate a Vernier bar 64I between the' bar section 3l. and the front portionof the bore 66. Tlie ver#- nier bar 64 is exposed through an opening or window 65 formedY inthe iront face ofthe slide 58 and is secured by fastenings 66A to said slide, above and beneath the opening 65. The Vernier bar 64 is substantially narrower than the bar' section. 3| and is disposed between the linear scales 32 and- 33 thereof. As best seen in Figure 18, the front part of the portion of the Vernier bar 64 which is exposed in the opening 65 is provided With two faces 61i which are angularly disposed with respect to. one another to form a ridge therebetween and" each oi which faces- 61 is providedv with. a ver-nier scale 68.. Each Vernier scale 63 functions.` with the scale 3'2 or 33;..10- catedadjacent thereto, aswill.. hereinafter. be" moreV fully described.

The unit 51 also includes a bar 69 which preferably formed integral With the lower end` of the slide 58 andwhich: isA forwardly offset relatively to the slide bore 60. The bar. 69 is disposed transversely of the slide 58 and extendslaterally from; one side thereof. A stem- 16 pro-- jects outwardly from the bar 69 and has. a bore 'H extending vertically therethrough; The stem 16 is. disposed; substantially in. alignment withf thev Vernier 64;. as illustrated" inY Figures 1L andl2. A sleeveetype` clamp 12 i'sdetachably and.`

' loosely supported on: theiaterallyproj ecting outer' end of the:v bar te' and has anA elongated slot 13 therein through which the bar 6!!y loosely cx` tends.. A wedge block. 1:4 is: disposed in the, upper endl or the. slotf it and bea-rs on the upper edge ofiA thev bar 66 and is adapted to be displaced downwardly with` respect toithe' slot 13 by' ascrew 15 which is i-Fnreamedl througntheupper portion', ofthe clamp`v sleeve 11?; and.' which bearsi against the wedge block 141 A magnifying unit; designated generally 16, includes a frame i1?, formedoi1` detachable secttions, in which a magnifying lens 18'; preferably ofy about 'i'l'ieenv power; is d'etachablyL` mounted. A slotted stem 1a extends downwardly from the bottom` o'ff theY frame 'FF and is insertable downwardly into the vertical bore 1| until the flrca-r tions-ofthe ste-rrr formed by its'dbwnwardly opening slot 8Ii`"are' wedged in" the bore 1| to mount the magnifying unit 16 above the stern 16 and directly' in front or the window" or opening 65 so that the' graduations andL indicia visible there-- through may temere' accurately and easily r'e'ad".

A gauge arm, designated generally' Bt, is detachablyV supported'A beneath the bar 69 by the clamp sleeve 12` and includes a' bar or shank 32 which is disposed in the bottom portion of the" slot. 13 beneath. the bottom edge ol'the bar 69. The bar or shank 82 has a downwardly offset portion at one end thereof forming a iaw 63 of" the gauge arm 8| and which is provided with a flat bottom surface 84 on its underside forming a movable jaw face of the gauge which is adapted to be disposed above and parallel to the surface 25 and the anvil surface 21 and above either of said surfaces as desired, by reversing the position of the arm 8| as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figure l.

Numerous uses for the height gauge 2| will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, if it is desired to check the measurements of a casting or similar manufactured item such as the casting C', as illustrated in Figure l, to make surethat the dimensions thereof are within the allowed tolerances, the gauge arm 8| may be applied, as previously described and as illustrated in Figure 1 in full lines and before the casting C is applied to the gauge 2 I, the screws 52 and 5| may be loosened to allow the slide 43 and unit 51 to slide downwardly until the movable jaw face 84 of the gauge comes to rest on the upper surface of the anvil 21, constituting a stationary jaw face of the gauge. If necessary, the nut 43 may then be loosened to permit the bar section 3| to be slid relatively to the channel section 23 until the 0 graduation of the inside scale 32 of said bar is approximately in alignment with the graduation of the complementary, adjacent scale 38 of the Vernier 64. Thereafter, the nut 48 is tightened and the thumb knob 4| may be turned in either direction to accomplish fine adjustment of the bar 3| to bring said 0 graduations into accurate alignment. When this has been accomplished, the scale bar 3| will be correctly set for either inside measurements to be made between the anvil surface 21 and jaw face 84, as illustrated in full lines in Figure l on the inside scale 32 in association with the adjacent Vernier scale 68, or the scale bar 3| will be correctly set, in the manner previously described, for taking outside measurements between the surface 25 and the dotted line position of the movable jaw face 84, as seen in Figure l and wherein a casting or other item to be measured is represented by the arrow tipped line designated C'. For taking outside measurements, the outside scale 33 is utilized with the adjacent Vernier scale 63 and since the spacing between the 0 graduations of the two scales is equal to the distance between the surface 25 and the anvil surface 21, both scales 32 and 33 will be accurately zeroed by the single adjustment of the bar 3|, as previously described.

With the screws 52 and 6| loosened, the supporting slide 49 and the unit 51 may be displaced upwardly until the 0 line of the Vernier scale is approximately in line with the graduation of either the scale 32 or the scale 33 representing the nearest fraction of an inch which is obtainable on the scale 32 or 33 to the measurement of the casting C to be made, this figure being obtained from a blueprint or other data against which the actual measurement of the casting is to be checked. Assuming that the over-all height of the casting C should measure 4.778 inches, as represented by the line A in Figure l, and further assuming that the inside scale 32 is to be used with the gauge arm 8| in its full line position of Figure l, the 0 graduation of the Vernier scale is located approximately in the position as illustrated in Figure 17 or perhaps slightly above this position, to enable the casting C to be positioned between the anvil 21 and the movable jaw face 84. The screw 53 may be manually turned after tightening the clamping screw 52 to anchor the supporting slide 49 to the standard 30, so that the `unit 51 which is then supported by the slide 43, may be adjusted vertically on the standard until the jaw face 84 is in contact with the upper surface of the casting C as illustrated in Figure 1. Assuming that the casting is of the exact height as prescribed, the Vernier scale 68 of the Vernier 64 will be positioned as illustrated in Figure 17 relatively to the inside scale 32. It will be noted that the scale 32 is divided into fortieths of an inch so that the 0 graduation of the Vernier scale 68 will be disposed nearest to or slightly above the graduation of the scale 32 representing 4.775 inches. It will also be noted that the two Vernier scales 66 are divided into twenty-live equally spaced graduations, every fifth one of which is designated by a longer graduation and a designating number. It will also be noted that the third graduation of the right-hand scale 63, as seen in Figure 17, aligns with a graduation of the scale 32, so that the 0 graduation of the Vernier is located 3425 the distance between the graduation of the scale 32 representing 4.775 inches and the next graduation thereabove representing 4.8 inches so that the reading 4.778 inches is thus obtained for the height of the casting C. It will thus be obvious that measurements may be accurately obtained to a thousandth of an inch with the gauge 2| and each measurement may be accurately-read through the magnifying lens 13 which is disposed directly in front of the Vernier 34 and the portions of the scales 32 and 33 located on either side of the Vernier. It will likewisey be obvious thatthe same reading could have been obtained inthe same manner with the use of the outside scale 33 and with the casting C placed upon the surface 25, assuming that said surface is flat and level.

It will likewise be apparent that other measurements of the casting C may be secured in a like manner between the anvil surface 21 and jaw face 84, as for example the height of the inside surface E of said casting relatively to its bottom surface.

For securing inside measurements, the shank 82 may be secured in an inverted position in the clamp sleeve 12.110 position the jaw face 84 in an upwardly facing position and by using a gauge block or model, not shown, having an inside surface of a known height, the scale bar 3| can be adjusted, as previously described, for correctly zeroing its scales to the 0 graduation of the Vernier and after such adjustment of the gauge the downwardly facing inside casting surface D may be measured, for example, and the distance between the surfaces D and E thus readily determined in view of the previous determination of the height of the surface E. Likewise, if desired, the clamp sleeve 12 may be displaced upwardly with respect to the bar 69 and the shank 82 then positioned in said sleeve above the bar 63 for securing either outside or inside measurements either with the use of the anvil surface 21 or the supporting surface 25, as indicated in full and dotted lines in Figure 19.

Ifvit is desired to layout the center line, for example, for an opening to be formed in a part of the casting C a Certain distance above its bottom surface, the gauge arm 8| may be removed and replaced by a bar 85 which is secured beheath the bar 33 by the clamp 12, as illustrated in Figure 16, in the same mannerthat the shank 82 is' secured to said parts, as previously described' and as illustrated in Figure l. The bai* 85 has a vertically disposed sleeve portion 86 at one end thereof in which the tubular shank 81 of a chuck 88 is secured by a setsei'ew 89 to support the chuck beneath the sleeve 86. A scriber shank 90y removably disposed in the chuck 88 and secured thereto in a conventional manner and with the scriber point 9| disposed therebeneath. The scale bar 3l may then be adjusted, as previi ously described to "zero" the scales 32 and 33 with respect to the point 9|, as by positioning the point 9i in engagement with tlief surface 25. A. surface of the casting. C may then be: pi'o-I vided with a temporary coating, as is conventional, and the casting C may be placed on the surface 25 and slid therealong so that the scriber point 8l will. inscribe a center line on the coated surface of the casting which may be subsequently used in drilling an opening therein ory for any other purpose.

Likewise, the gauge can be set as previously described with a rod 92, as illustrated in Figure 20 secured in the chuck. 88' in lieu of the scriber 9B, 91 and with the gauge bar 3l zeroe'd to the lower end 93 of the rod 92tl1eI gauge 2lA may be used for measuring thev depth of a recess, forexample, in a casting, not, shown, and the' reading thus obtained on Athe gauge representing the height from the. bottom of such recess with respect to either the anvil surface 2l or the surface 25, whichever is beingemployed,

Numerous other attachments' may be utilized with the chuckunits of Figures 16 and 29' for adapting the gauge' 2 ll to-variousl other uses which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and various other modincations and'V changes are likewise contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter' defined by' theappendedclaims.

lclailn as my invention:

1`. An adjustable height gauge comprising a base, a standard' fixed to and rising perpendicularly from said' base including a section rigidly secured to the base and a scaleA section slidably mounted in said nrst' mentioned; rigidV section for reciprocating movement longitudinally of the Standard and relatively to' the base, said scale section having an exposed side providedwith al linear scale. including inches and fractions thereof, manually actuated means connecting the standard sections for slidably adjusting'tliemov'- able scalesection relatively tothe rigid section and for retaining said sectionsin adjusted'l posi'- tions, a gauge elementv carrying unit including a slide` reciproc'ably mounted on' thev standard, means for clamping said slide toy the rigid stand-A ard section in various adjusted positions, said scale section ofi the standard being adjustable' tol relativelyito said slide when the latter is clamped to the standardrsaid slide having. aiwindovv for" exposing a portion-oi thez scale of said scale' sec'-` tion, means'carried by said slideiorniing af gauge arm support, said gauge armsupport being offsetV from and extending transversely' across" a front side of the standard, a-gauge arm.- detachablysupported bysaidv means-f transversely of the standard and. having a jaw face constituting. a

movable gauge jaw, said base havingtanupwardly facing. anvil surface above-Which said. movable jaw face is disposedin lone position of mounting of the gauge` arm on its supporting. means and with said.A movable .law acefacingA either toward einer freni sensitivities? @nimmer side. or inside measurements, respectively, of an article mounted on the anvil surface, said gauge arm being' adjustably supported by said support ing means outwardly relatively to either side edge oi the standard for selectively positioning the jaw face above a nat supporting surface of the base in combination with which said jaw face is adapted to function in its last mentioned posi tion for obtaining'` measurements of an article supported on the supporting surface of the gauge, and said scale bar being' vertically adjustable for zeroing the Scale thereof with the slide in either adjusted position of the jawv face'.

2. An adjustable height gauge comprising a base having an upwardly facing stationary level surface constituting a supporting surface on which an' article to be measured is adaptedto rest,- an upright standard disposed perpendiculaitd the supporting surface including a stationary standard section secured rigidly to the base and a movable standard section slidably connected to said stationary" standard section for movement longitudinally thereof and relatively tothe base. said movable standard section having an exposed face provided with a linear scale, a gauge element carrying unit slidably mounted on said standard,

means adjustably clamping said unit to the rigid standard section, a movable gauge element for cooperation with the supporting surface in obtaining measurements between different spaced points on' an article supported by the supporting surface, and supporting means carried by the gaugeelement carrying unit and detachably and adjustabiy securing said movable gauge element thereto for supporting the movable gauge element in a plurality of positions relatively to the gauge element carrying unit, said means connecting the .standardv sections comprising a stem rotatably and slida-bly connected to the stationary standard sectionV and threadedly connected to the movable standard section, a bearing journalling the intermediate portion of said stein to'Which the stem isrotatably and nonslidably connected, said bearing-being slidably connectedito-the stationary standard section and having means for adjustably clamping it theretowhereby the stem is reciprocated with the bearing relatively to the-stationary standard section for accomplishingrough adustment of the movable standard section and whereby said stem is rota-table in the bearing when theA bearing is in a clamped position for accomplishing nehadjustment of the movable standardsectionY relatively to the gauge element carryingunit.

DONALD D. HULL.-

ItefemininesV Citedv in the' nie of this patent UN II ED STATES' PATENTS 

